‘Glee’ Star Charice Speaks Out On Father’s Murder, Suspect Surrenders

Following this week’s shocking news that 19-year-old singer/actress Charice’s father, Ricky Pempengco, had been stabbed to death in The Philippines, the Associated Press now reports that the main suspect in the case, Angel Capili Jr., has surrendered to the chief of his village in General Trias township, just south of Manila.

Charice (full name: Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco) starred in the role of Sunshine Corazon on Season 2 of Glee. She canceled a performance with David Foster in Singapore this week following news of the death of her estranged 40-year-old father.

“I have to go back to the Philippines as soon as possible to be with my family. I hope you all understand. I love you all and I will see you next year,” Charice wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

Police said Ricky Pempengco, a construction worker, was stabbed with an ice pick by a drunken man Monday after buying cigarettes at a store. The AP reports that Gilbert Cruz, police chief of nearby Laguna province, said Capili is also a construction worker but apparently did not know Pempengco.

Capili spoke to reporters in Manila, and told them that his guilty conscience had gotten the better of him. “I had really planned to surrender because what I did was wrong,” he said. “I am seeking forgiveness from the family left behind by Mr. Pempengco… I am prepared to suffer whatever is the judgment.”

Capili gave no response when asked why he had allegedly stabbed Pempengco, though Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who, according to the AP, spoke with Capili, relayed that the suspect said he was assaulted by Charice’s father: “He was claiming that he was already backing away but then (the victim) continued to attack him so he got a screwdriver and he stabbed Mr. Pempengco. We will compare the account of witnesses with the account of the suspect.”